Mohaymen takes Nashua despite bad manners

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - He reared up in the paddock and was temperamental around the starting gate. But when it came time to run, Mohaymen was all business as he recorded a 1 3/4-length victory in Wednesday’s Grade 2, $200,000 Nashua Stakes on opening day at Aqueduct.

Mohaymen capped a pretty good half-hour for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin, who watched his 3-year-old Marking win a first-level allowance by 5 1/2 lengths. Both Mohaymen and Marking are 2 for 2.

Mohaymen also gave McLaughlin his fourth victory in the Nashua. He previously won the race with Cairo Prince (2013), Etched (2007), and Day Pass (2006).

After winning his debut in front-running fashion at Belmont on Sept. 19. Mohaymen was sixth of seven coming out of the gate after a bit of a tardy beginning.

“He was a little upset warming up, He didn’t want to be around the pony, then we get to the gate, he didn’t want to load and once he was inside he kept on rocking back and forth,” said Junior Alvarado, who rode Mohaymen. “After the break, he wasn’t in the best position. After that I tried to manage him to get the best trip I could.”

Mohaymen was fifth down the backside and sixth, about four lengths off the lead, after a quarter-mile in 23.47 seconds with Magna Light setting the pace and chased by Pilot House.

Mohaymen moved into third after a half-mile and was creeping up alongside Magna Light approaching the quarter pole. Despite cocking his head and drifting out slightly in upper stretch, Mohaymen edged away from the field while Flexibility, who was fourth early on outfinished the late-running Sail Ahoy by a neck for second. It was 3 1/4 lengths back to River Dell in fourth. He was followed, in order, by Magna Light, Jay’s Way, and Pilot House. Sunny Ridge was scratched because trainer Jason Servis said he wanted more time for his Champagne runner-up.

Mohaymen, a son of Tapit who was purchased by Sheikh Hamdan’s Shadwell Stable for $2.2 million as a yearling at Keeneland September 2014, covered a mile in 1:36.01 and returned $4.20 as the favorite.

“He just was a little amped up today,” McLaughlin said. “He didn’t go in the gate real easily. We’ll work with him on that. He’s very talented.”

McLaughlin said Mohaymen would be considered for the Grade 2, $300,000 Remsen here on Nov. 28 or the Kentucky Jockey Club the same day at Churchill Downs. McLaughlin is also considering Annual Report, winner of the Futurity at Belmont, for both of those races as well as the Delta Jackpot on Nov. 21 at Delta Downs.